EATON — The Thursday Night Dance is celebrating its six-year anniversary! However, many of these dancers have been dancing way longer than six years. Gina remembers dancing in the kitchen with her mother when she was as young as two years old. Mind you, Gina’s mother, Helen is one of the eldest dancers at the Thursday Night Dance at the age of 95. When I asked Tim, Gina’s husband how long he’s been dancing, he quickly replied, “all my life!”
I asked Betty Huff, how long she’s been dancing, understand that Betty is the one that got the ball rolling and started the infamous Thursday Night Dance. Betty shared with me that she had a cousin that would come over and they would dance as teenagers. She was also mesmerized by how great of a dancer her father was. I was delighted to hear that in junior high and high school they would have sock hops in the gym after lunch. Ray would go to all the school dances with his older brother and get to dance with all the girls while the other boys stood along the walls. He also hitchhiked from New Lebanon to Eaton to attend the first Saturday night dance at the Eaton Armory.
Ronnie and Joyce King have been dancing together for 27 years. They too helped to get the dance started nearly six years ago. They used to teach dance lessons as well. Bob Dinkler, age 91 has been dancing for 25 years, he was there with Markie Murphy who’s been dancing for about five years. Come to find out, Markie was a Riveter from Middletown, Ohio. Here’s a trivia question for you, the late ‘Rosie the Riveter’ is a cultural icon of what, and why?
As for our truly infamous Thursday Night Dances, on October 17 we will be celebrating our six year anniversary, and as always, you are invited to join us! If you can’t make the 17th, our Halloween Party Dance – yes you can dress up – is on the 24th. We dance nearly every Thursday from 5:00 to 8:00pm at The Grange on Nation Avenue. We have live music, dollar food menu, 50/50 drawing, adults of all ages are welcome, $3 for single or $5 for couples.
We aren’t having the dance on Oct. 31 or Nov. 28. We do offer Dance Lessons on Monday and Tuesday nights. We look forward to seeing you on the dance floor!
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